Low-cost insurance options
Affordable Care Act
Open enrollment
Use Washington Healthplanfinder to help you find, compare and select a quality health insurance plan that is right for you, your family and your budget.
You may qualify for Apple Health (Medicaid), and can also apply for it at Washington Healthplanfinder.
WSU Student Health Insurance Plans (SHIP/iSHIP)
WSU works with an independent insurance broker to offer health insurance options for graduate assistants (including professional students in health sciences), international students and their dependents. Certain eligibility criteria may apply.
WSU, including WSU Vancouver Health Services and WSU Pullman Cougar Health Services, does not facilitate or administer the student health insurance plans. The current plan is managed by United Healthcare. The Student Health Insurance Advisory Board provides student representation to WSU to ensure student interests are considered when selecting insurance plans. For more information, visit the Student Insurance website at CHS and consult the FAQ for your specific plan. You can also consult with the insurance navigators at WSU Pullman Cougar Health Services by calling 509-335-3575 (option 3).
Prescriptions
Certain medications will not be prescribed (e.g., benzodiazepines, opioids or narcotics) by the Vancouver Health Services clinic, and may not be mailed to you if you are on a SHIP plan.
The WSU SHIP plans provide prescription mailing services to students residing in the state of Washington, through the CHS pharmacy in Pullman. Maintenance medication is typically mailed from the pharmacy in one-to-three business days of submitting an order or refill request. Plan refills accordingly, ordering with enough time for prescriptions to be processed and delivered before you need them.
For urgently needed medications (antibiotics or other short-term medications), you may request your prescription to be overnighted. If you have questions or would like to start receiving your prescription by mail, contact the CHS pharmacy at 509-335-5742. Due to the differences in various state laws, the CHS pharmacy is unable to mail prescriptions out of state to any students, regardless of their insurance or where the bill for medication is sent. If you have SHIP, they can transfer your prescription to a local pharmacy in your state, and you can fill it there. Certain out-of-pocket costs may apply, depending on your pharmacy’s network status.
Insurance and Billing Questions
You may request reimbursement from the SHIP plan for covered medical expenses that you have paid for out-of-pocket. For more details, including steps to request reimbursement, see the FAQ page for your SHIP plan.
Becky Meyer, student insurance specialist, is an excellent resource. Email her at becky.meyer@wsu.edu or call 509-335-6575.
Providers, Urgent Care, and Other Services
If you currently have SHIP, you can find providers online on United Healthcare’s site or by logging into your student health insurance account.
Washington state offers a network of community health clinics that offer healthcare services on a sliding fee scale based on income. These clinics provide a range of medical services, including primary care, dental care, and mental health services.